Lock device



Aug. 19, 1952 i ERNEST LOCK DEVICE 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed May 15, 1948 INVENTOR.

Aug. 19, 1952 F. ERNEST 2,607,618

LOCK DEVICE Filed May 15, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 A 9 zmflvrok.

.FED .Efemezsz HTTOENEV- Patented Aug. 19, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,607,618 LOCK DEVlCE 7 Fred Ernest, Gardena, ZCaIif. ApplicationTMay 15, 1948, Serial-.iN0.$27;17.8 (01.292 41) IL'Claims.

The-present invention relates tolockdevices, and ismore particularly directed to lock: devices embodying rotary bolts especially-designed for use on automo'bile doors.

Inthe'type of lock device described in United States Patent No. 2,249,018 a rotary 'bolt cooperates with a keeper and a cam mechanism to hold an "automobile door'closed. The rotary bolt includes-an outer toothednportion engageable with the keeper, and an, inner toothedportion cooperable with a spring actuated pivotedcam mechanism for urging-and maintaining the door in'its locked position. -In order-to lock the door in closed position, the-keeper must rotate the bolt to-a :sufiicient extent, prior to-flull closing of the door, a to displace thecam mechanism to :a tripping position, 2 from which the I. mechanism is operative toclose'the door fully and-maintain it in such condition .until purposely'openedby a retracting .or releasing device. In addition to its function of closing and holding the door closed, theyrotary bolt, keeper and spring actuated cam mechanism serve to prevent rattling of the door. Lock devices :of the type referredto operate effectively, so long as the cam mechanism" can be shifted -toits tripping positioniprior to full closing movement of the-door with respectto the stationary :post'or pillar-of the door opening. Certain conditions oftentimes prevent-such shifting-movement of the cam mechanism. These include manufacturing errors in 1 the individualv parts, the particular design of the .parts, their improper assemblywith respectto 'each other, their'd-istortion, wear of the'cooperating surfaces-from usage,- and improper disposition of the parts, ordinarily resulting from usage.

An-object of-the present invention is to correct deficiencies in the operation of a rotary lock device without the necessity for replacing anyof itsp'arts .01? of dismantling the devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple 'mechanism for correcting deficiencies in the operation of a rotary lock; device, which can be installed very quickly without the need for disturbingany of the; partsof the lock device. Another object of the-invention is to insure the-proper operation of the rotary iockdevice through use of 1 an auxiliary-mechanism which avoids interference 'withthe free opening and closing rmovements' of a door or similar closure; More particularly; the auxiliary mechanism does not tend to efiect binding 1 of the n door on its hinges or in the framedefining the door opening. A further object of the invention. is; tozprovide a'ide'vi'ce for use onva' rotary door *lockthat.:com-

pensatesfor-wear of the parts, their improper relative disposition, and manufacturing errors.

Still :another object of the invention is to provide a device for correcting the operation of :a

rotary lock, wi-thout disturbing its parts, in situations wherein-the longitudinal distance between thezstationary and movable lock parts is too great for-proper operation of the lock device.

A further object of .the invention is to provide aniattachmentfor correcting the operation of a rotarylock devicewhich can: be installed easily, andcwhichisnot-susceptible to inadvertent removal orv loss.

:Anotheruobjectaofthe invention is to'provide ant'attachmentfor-the rotary bolt of a'lock-device, which is capable of installation without removing the cover or housing for the bolt.

' This invention possesses many other advantages and has other objectsvwhich maybe made more-clearlyapparent from a consideration of severaliforms in'which it is embodied. These, forms-:areshown in the drawings accompanying and formingparttof thepresent specification, and. willsnow. be described in detail, for thepurpose ofiililustnating :the general ;princip1es1'of the invention. .It, is to :be' understood, howeventhat this detaild description is not to 'betaken ina limiting senseysince the scope of theinvention is best defined by the appended claims.

- Reteriingto the drawings:

' Fig ure -1-isa somewhat diagrammatic view-"ofarotar-y' boltlock device, with'the cam mecha-J nism in its tripping position;

Fig. "2 is a view similar to-Fig. 1, with-the cam mechanism its -lo'cking position;

Fig.3 is-a view-similar to Fig. 1, illustrating a defective-rotary lock and the inability of the cam meohanismtobe disposed in its tripping position;

Fig.4 is anexploded, isometric view of a rotary bolt'and'anattachment for therotary bolt which is capable .of insuring movement of the cam mechanismlto itsztripping position;

j'jl igjfi'lis'a diagrammatic view of the manner ofinstallinglthe attachment disclosed in Fig. 4 on the rotary bolt;

vFig. 6..is ..a.-somewhat diagrammaticview ofv a 1ock..device, with the attachment shown in Fig.4-

fully installed on the rotary bolt;

.lEigaZ-is a view similar. to Fig.6 ofanother embodiment of the invention;

:Fig; Bis a view similarto Fig. Gofstill-another form,-ofthe: invention; 7 Y St is asection taken along the -line-9--.9 on Figinglt.

line Hll mounted upon the outer end of a door l5 which can swing to and from closed position upon hinges (not shown) in the usual manner. The keeper I0 projects longitudinally from the stationary post H and is engageable with the bolt I i, rotatable upon a pin secured between a plate 11, suitably attached to the casing is of the lock device within the door, and to the end portion of a housing member 29 partially enclosing the rotary bolt I4 and suitably attached to the casing H3.

The rotary bolt i includes an outer keeper cooperating member 28 having a plurality of circumferentially equidistant teeth 2| cooperable with the forward inclined face 22 of the stationary' keeper H3, and also with its rear inclined face 23. I The forward keeper face-22 is engageable -with the rear face 24 of each'tooth of the outer portion of the rotary bolt, while the rear inclined keeper face 23 is adapted to "be engaged by the forward face-25 of each tooth, for: the purpose of holding the door in closed positionand without rattling, in cooperation with a stationary abutment 36 extending from the outer end'of the door !5 and suitably secured to the door casing 8. The lower surface 21 of this abutment is engageable with the upper surface 28 of the projecting keeper ll).

The complete locking action ofthe device is dependent upon the action of a'cam mechanism. This mechanism includes a plurality of longitu dinally spaced holding cams or pawls 2*9 pivotally This keeper is, adapted to cooperate with a rotary bolt M mounted on a pin 30 extending between and secured to the outward projecting abutment member 26 and the supplementary plate I! attached to the casing 8. These pawls 29 are each biased towards an inner toothed portion 3| of the row tary bolt hi, the foot portions 32 of the cams being engageable with the inner teeth 33 in order to hold the rotary bolt in its locking position.

A dividing flange or fin 34 separates the :outer and inner portions of the bolt, this fin being disposed vwithin a suitable opening 35 in the cas- The cams 29 are biased toward the inner portion 3| of the bolt by individual coil springs v3t bearing against them and suitably anchored to the casing IS. The springs urge the foot portions 32 into the space between adjacent teeth 33, and engage a cam foot with the rear face 3! of one tooth and the forward face 38 of .the nexttooth, in this manner preventing rotation of the bolt M in one direction. The forward face 38 of each tooth is adapted to shiftthe cams 29 outwardly against the. force of their springs 36 upon rotation of the bolt on the pin 18 in the proper direction. 1 The mechanism described is well known. Furth'er details are unnecessary to an understanddoor swing toward locking position upon movement to the right, as seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. As the door approaches the pillar H, the cams 29 may be disposed with their foot portions 32 in the locked position in the space between adjacent inner teeth 33. The rear face 24 of a tooth on the outer bolt portion 29 first engages a safety catch 39, forming part of the keeper l0, and pivotally mounted on a pin wfixed to the plate HE. A spring 4! normally biases the safety catch 39 in an outward direction, but permits it to swing in a clockwise direction within a causes the forward face '33 of an inner tooth 33 to shift-the cams 23 outwardly against the force of the springs 33. Continued movement of the door towards its closed position eventually places the heel 32a of the camsv at the outer end of the tooth 33, and a slight rotation of the bolt beyond that position of its tooth 33 would cause the cams 32 to move inwardly within the next space between adjacent inner teeth 33 (Fig. 2),

the cam foot 32 engaging the rear surface 3'! of the inner tooth 33 and causing further rotation of the bolt 112 under the influence of the springs 36 in a counter-clockwise direction. As

' tween the outer tooth 2| and the keeper surface 23 tends to shift the door downwardly with respect to the keeper, bringing the upper abutment 26 against the upper surface 28 of the keeper. This latter action prevents the door from rattling. The lock position just described is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 2, in which it is apparent that the door I 5 cannot open of its own accord, since such action would tend to rotate the bolt Id in a clockwise direction, the motion being transmitted to the inner earns 29 along a line approximately intersecting the cam pivot pin 30, or to the right thereof, as seen in Fig. 2. As a result, the cams 29 cannot be swung outwardly against the force of their spring 36, which would release the lock and permit opening of the door.

When the door is to be opened, a suitable retracting member 44 is moved downwardly against an arm 45 projecting from one of the cams or pawls-29,which will rock all of the cams against the force of the springs 36 out of engagement with the inner teeth 33, permitting the rotary bolt to rotate freely in both directions, and allo'w' ing the door to be opened. During such opening movement, the bolt 14' is first'rotated in a clockwise direction by the rear inclined face 23 of the keeper, and may then be rotated further in a clockwise direction by engagement of an outer tooth 2i with the safety catch 39.

Itis apparentfrom the foregoing description that the rotary lock is only effective to perform itsztunction 20f securelyiholdin 1the= door sintclosed; position, :if; :the came 29 =-can be moved to, their trippingeposition; during ;the:.clo.sin. movement ,of the? door.; |r5., *before: the. -,doo.r:.=;has :been' *tully' closedrg A's disclosed. in,=-li?iga-3, :thaparts are some.-

latedrias to..-.prevent;the winner :teeth; 33 from; so;- shifting thezcams. when-lthe .door @has been: rnov1ed; inwardly-Ito its 'zfullestnextent. This 515 I due to, the

fact: that the bolt. I 41 has. not been 'turned.-.-sufiicientlymnlit's axis upon .full closing of-the :Iloor,

a. condition which may be due, 'to a variety f factors. :As tin-example, wear "on .a-;keeper-. toothzl imaysbersuch that its langul'ar ;movement, iiupon. engaging. the keeper 1.0, is. insuflicient to place, thetcams r ein the dripping position; In :addi: tion, sagging :o'f ithe'doorwlfi might lower -the-axis. Ofltheabblhll toj.-'such anwextent that :the: keeper til en ages the teeth: .-2| Tat too ze.1r-. ea a ;{ii-s a t r:

from,:the.;bolt axis, and. therefore,- ves the-molt. insuificientiangular movement. j Another CQIldi'fj non-encountered .:is related to, the -taper ing..1or.

. outward "convergence of; the zouter surface of the;

keeper Hi. If the keeper ifl "does %not :ext end longitudinally into :the space =between thez abut+ ment 125;; androtany bolt yl l, it will engage. the h outer, teeth :21. of :the bolt atrtoo great-1a dis? tance, fnomdts 'axis to insure suflic-ienbangular moyement -:of-the bolt. -0ther.; conditions -=than those-specifically mentioned may; interfere. with appropriate operation of '"the rotary lock .'device. the formnof invention disclosed in: Figs. 4; '5 and 6, the foregoing defects are remedied. A clip 46, whichrm-ay be=made .of spring steel, is shaped in star fashion generally to conform to the outer toothed portion 200i the bolt M. This clip, 45.-is=adapted-.to=fit around the toothed memberZO-uand is also designed for installation on the latter without the necessity :for disturbing any parts of the .lock device. 'It :is shaped'to have its outer toothed portions -41 of :substan. tially the same face width as the teeth 2| on the' ou-ter bolt portion. However, the. :parts 48. ofthe clip that are .to be disposed in the spaces between adjacent teeth 21 at its root circleare weakened, =as byv relieving their oppositeside edges 49. .Such relief may be provided by forming recesses or notches 50 in the. side edges. of. generally .arcuate form, asdisclosed in 4. The spring clip 46 issplit to facilitate itsinstallation :on the outer portion of the rotary bolt, the manner described below, the .split being so devised asto lie adjacent the .root circle within the spacebetween adjacent teeth 2| when'ins'talled on the bolt l4. faces '24 of the outer teeth may be longer than the leading faces 25, the spring clip is shaped. accordingly, with the portions '52, 53 on opposite sides :of its split 5| being of unequal lengths, so that one part 52.'will be disposed along the short face 25, and the other part 53 along the long-face 2-4 of adjacent teeth.

Phestar or lobe-shaped clip46 can'be installed upon the 'correspondingstar wheel 20 of the rotary 'b'olt M by expanding the clip, and by hooking the tooth 4-1 defined on one side by the short end portion "52 over one of the keeper teeth 2|, With the s'hort portion 52 disposed along the forward face of the keeper'tooth (as in Fig. 5). The clip 46 is opened sufficiently so that its remaining portion is disposedxpartly .around the star 'wheel 20. and zaboutppart of the cover b9. partially enclosing: the bolt l4; "Such 'expanding or-openin'g of the-spring clip'is facilitated. and permitted by the weakened sections 48 at its root portions, which allow wide separation between; the split. ends of the :clip,.=witho.ut ma- Since thetrailing .theholt. 1414s JrOtatEG'Iin awcounte clockwisegdirection, aswseenrin Eig t; and thez clip si-is-vfed and 13plaoed around;the entireaouteh toothe gportion20;=of;3:the';bo1t, with: .the opposed; ends :52,. 53 closely iadiacent .:-,o ev mlcx itrr nd: disposedat the root circle in;the1clearanee;space between adjoining iteethizi, ilhegaprt between, the :ends 10f the-clip ;-preferabl .y placedat; l the;- lowelfzportionrof the' forward face;-25=of 'the :tooth; since such portion ordinarily does not-enga e; theqke'eperlifl; s r .The; short =leg :52 :of :theclipgis zpreferablygourved. upwardly at iits -.end; 54 to a slight- .extent, some; to avoid {digging into the face r25 of the rkeflpfilf. tooth 211-, ilfihev long portion 53' of the clipris' r805 shaped gas. to cause .-its end 55; t0 :movewinwardlyz' ithe adjacent rear toothed face. I :This end-I 56; may ;have=ark nif e.-iedgeiso as factually tmpenetrate the 'tooth .-faee '24: slightly, and -.th ereby present... inadvertenttmovement or removal 0f the, clip.- fromfitheouter .-.portion anor the; rotaryv bolt. 7 When :fullyinstalled on; the I outer star a,v heel 20, -the-o1ip'46' increases the :size of the :teeth 2 h to.-an.- extent .insuring properoperation of he. rotary ibolt lock device. .As disclosed in Big: .3; the rotary bolt is incapable of shifting-shamanis- 29 totheir tripping position. 'I-{he instaliation of .thestamshaped spring-clipAGaon theqkeeper: engaging portion 2010f the rotary .b olt H;.causes thegboltto :berotated by the keep'er -l;.l1-=at; :au, li ran i n eqr w neins mov e t Qfe' hE door-1,15 toward closedtposition,. and, gtherefore.} causes'thednnerteeth!3-3-=tozberotatedsufiflientlm prior toafullqclosing of the -door, as. to placeathe l a sth i 'w r np n n s ti l-gfromcwhich theywill bemused-automatically byttheirsprings; 36; .wards :their holding positirm Killust ratedv-in Eig.,2,.-w hich -automaticallymoves the .door 15515.0; fully c1osed.position.- Y .1 .Not .only r-is .a-ssuranee :had that the springclip. lfi on -thea'rotary bolt' member 20 will produce;- sufiicientrotation-of the latter butduringtmovee. menta ofithabolt ltd-by the camsds to-fuliyflocked position, the spring 1 clip .toothed; .el'ement dli:Weill, engageathe rear inclined face-.-23 of the" keeper- L0 ateanvearlier point in=its rotation, andgiinsure; a snug engagement between the keeper Land: the ..forward;face-of the clip.-tooth.*4'l.; gWhiCh"Wi11 preventrattlingofthe door;

:It .-;apparent that the tootheshaped clip. 45: wills-insure ;proper operation of the rotaryxlock. device without the necessity :forshifting thedoor' .5 lwimr t othe rstationary'zp st or :pillar H and without vthe "necessity: for 1 binding. :the. door upon-its hinges. 'Iheraxis of the --rotarybclt I4; may remain the :same "withlrespect jztol the keeper gl-lltas before the :spring:'clip- -46. was :eadded. Thegclipzinsuresthat the doorfwill :bezheld'tig-htly in closed ,-.position without. rattling.v .lIt. can mounted {easily :upon the-outer "toothedsmember zoomne -bolt;without-disturbingrany: parts oil-atheloclrr; .In :addition, its weakened :sections Milt-not; only permit openingjof the clip, to :racilitaterits.

installationonithe toothed wheel, but the'arcue tch s- 011 recessesfi 0 enable the 1111 .tofliavez substantially the-full face. width of :theuteeth ill 3 18 ".tootheshapedmli 46 also .fprve'ntsith' keeper I 0, whichfiis :usually itapered from bearing upon :smallaor localized: areas on thez rotary bo'lt M. which is :ordinarily :made :of'fsoft': materia1, such as aizinczalloy. :In the Iabsenc'e-ofithe-cIip 46, thisllocalized bearing-"areazresultszin-athe nnposition of a liighunitrpressure on the comparethe unit pressure of the latter and insuring its long life; l There is usually a fillet or radius 51' between the dividing fin 34 of the bolt and the inner portionof the teeth 2|. This curved fillet 5| =would prevent proper insertion of the clip it-on the toothed member to the full extent desired; The relief portions '50, however, permit the fillets 51 to be received within them, and allow theclip to beplaced fully upon the bolt and against "the dividing fin or flange 34. It'is also to be noted that the provision of the notches 50 on both sides of the spring clip not only weakens the clip at the desired points, but it also allows the same clip who used on right hand and left hand door locking devices, with assurance that the reliefs 50 will avoid interference with the fillets 5-1 of the rotary bolts.

The-operation of the rotary bolt can'be corrected'by a different attachment, which may assume the form disclosed in Fig. 7. This attachment comprises a spring-like clip 58Qwhichis placed around the keeper l0, and is shaped to conform to the-outer surface of the keeper. Thus; the spring clip 58 includes a depending forward end 59 snugly embracing the forward face 43 of the keeper and a top portion 60"that may be bowed upwardly'to a slight extent for engagement with the abutment 25'and assist in holding the'door against rattling. The rear-portion 6! of the clip is bent downwardly along therear face 62 of the keeper and also along its rear and forward inclined faces 23, 22. From the forward inclined face 22, the keeper is provided with-a hook GSfitting around the forward margin 64 of the keeper defining the opening 42 in which the safety catch 39 swings. It is apparent that the hook 63 aids in holding the clip securely upon the keeper ID. I i

The added thickness of material upon the lower inclined faces 22, 23 of the keeper causes a tooth 2 lof: the rotarybolt to en'g'a'ge the forward inclined. portion Q 65 of the spring "clip at 1 an "earlier point in'- the movement of the d'oor' 1 5 't'o closed position. As a result,'-'the-bolt; ll i's' 'r'otated agreater angular distance-during closing-of the door, which insures-shifting by the inner cam teeth 33 of the cams "29 to their tripping; position before the door'is. fully closed. {I-his trippingpo-f sition is illustrated in 'Fig.- 7, from which it is apparent that a further slight closing movement of the door I 5 war advance the bolt member l4; by a" slight amount, to cause the-"springs 36* a); shift the cams 29 down-into the tootlr space-b'e tween adjacent teeth 33, or'to the positionshfiwn;

in :Fig. 2;- Thedoords thus held in'snuglyclosed position, 'witho'the forwardface 25 of ajkeeper tooth bearing upon" a the rear inclined portion 65" of the clip, and with. the .top.60.,of the clip bearing snugly against the abutment 25;

. The provision of the forward inclined clip per- 7 7 tion 65 not onlyadvances thero'tation of thebolt It, andinsures operation of thecams '29 beyondtheir tripping position,:but it alsoeauses theforward face 25 of a. keeper tooth 'to "engage th'el 8.1; rear inclined portion 66 of the clip and bear snugly thereagainst to'holdthe door against rattling movement. The absence ofthisrear part it of the clip might not have caused engagement be tween the-tooth Zlfand the keeper lll' proper',

in view of -wear-'that might have occurred on either the keeper 10 or tooth 2|, orboth.

There is yet another important function to the provision ofthe spring clip 58 disclosed in Fig. .7.

The keepers lfl 'are ordinarily provided with 'a' draft angle or are tapered so as to' convergein a direction toward the end of the door l5 (see Fig. 9). cies into the lock mechanism. For example,

should the distance between-the door post I l and the outer end of the door, l5 be too great, the: keeper might projectonly slightly into 'the'path- In view of the convergent taper 61, the teeth 21 would engage the keeper at of the'keeperteeth 2|.

too late a point in the-movement of the' doorto closed position, and might not result'in suflicient rotation of the bolt and shifting of the-cams- 29, beyond'their trippingposition. The spring" clip 58 overcomes this'defectsince it is disposed around the keeper l0 withits surfaces-substam tially parallel to the axis of the bolt 14. That isto say, the draft angle is eliminatedandthe' 7 draft angle on the keeper can be' overcome by another form of clip, which may assume the shape of a cap- 63 adapted to fit completelyaround the keeper l-il, with anopening 69 registering with the keeper opening 42 in which the safety catch 39 moves (Figsrt and 9). "The side portions or side wall 10 of the cap conform generally to the'corre'sponding surfaces of the keeper m, and the cap also has'an end wallll integral The cap finds particular use with its side wall. I iii-conditions wherein the keeper 5 li) may not project sufficiently into the path of-movement of the keeper teeth 2| on the rotary bolt M, as'

pointed out in connection with theembodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 7.

As disclosed in Figk'Q, the end of the keeper tion of the cap into the path of the keeper teeth'2l. and tojavoid interference with the end of the door 5. The 'cap neednot be'fd'riven fully onto the keeper, since its force fit will hold it in appropriately assembled position.'

It is'evident that the lower inclined portions 12, 3 of thecapwill cooperate with the keeper teeth 2!, to insurerotation of the bolt 14 to its. cam tripping position, and also the exertion of, a force by the. forward face 25 of a keeper tooth againsttherear inclined portion .13 of the cap, to prevent rattling of the door. This last-mew, tionedfunction will occur .in conjunction with the upper part M of the cap engaging the under-- side of the abutment member-25l 1 The cap'58 insures appropri'ateYprojection of. a relatively stationary: element into the path of the keeper teeth 2|, without the necessity for;

shims need not be placed between the plate l3' This draft angle-introduces certain deficien- The cap 55 has a force fit on the and the frame pillar II, which might produce a similar result, although not to the same extent as the cap, since the latter causes rotation of the bolt at an earlier point in the swinging movement of the door 15 to closed position, than would be the case with engagement of the keeper itself with the outer teeth 2| of the bolt 14.

Proper operation of the lock mechanism may be obtained by another form of cap deviceflll, of the character disclosed in Figs. 10 and 11. This cap device is similar to the one shown in Figs. 8 and 9, being of generally cup shape, and having an opening 8| to permit appropriate operation of the safety catch 39. The cap, however, need not have a driving fit on the keeper I0,

but is made with its side wall 82 straight or.

parallel to the axis of the rotary bolt I4, or perpendicular to the plate portion 13 of the keeper.

The cap 80 is inserted on the keeper with a snug, but not necessarily a tight, fit. It is held in place by a screw 83, such as a self-tapping screw, extending through the end wall 84 of the cap and threaded into the end wall 85 of the keeper. The extent of outward projection of the cap beyond the end 8 4 of the keeper can be determined by interposing shims 85 between the end walls 84, 85. It is apparent that tightening of the screw 83 will clamp the shims 85 between the end walls and hold the parts in appropriately assembled relation. I

As stated above, the side wall 82 of the cap is straight, and not tapered, which will insure its line or surface-contact with the keeper teeth 2| of the rotary bolt [4 along substantially the entire width of the teeth. The tapered keeper In, or tapered cap 68 (Figs. 8 and 9) would impose only a point bearing contact and would accelerate wear on the rotary bolt 14. The cap 80, therefore, not only advances the rotation of the bolt l4 upon movement of the door to closed position, but it also distributes the load over a greater surface on the bolt teeth 2|, which are made of zinc alloy, or other comparatively soft metal, lengthening the life of the rotary bolt 14 and insuring proper operation of the mechanism over greatly extended periods.

In all forms of the invention disclosed, it is unnecessary to modify the relationship between any of the parts of the lock mechanism. It is only necessary to add an auxiliary member or attachment, which is readily mounted upon the. parts, and which insures the advance of the bolt rotation to the required extent in obtaining actuation of the cams 29 beyond their tripping positions.

The inventor claims:

1. In a latch mechanism having a toothed rotary bolt member, an abutment spaced from the member, and a keeper member adapted to be received between the bolt member and the abutment for rotating the bolt member into latching engagement with the keeper; said abutment guiding the relative movement of the members; means adapted for mounting upon the toothed portion of said bolt member and enageable with said keeper member for advancing the point at which said keeper member commences rotation of said bolt member upon relative bodily movement of said members toward each other.

2. In a latch mechanism having a keeper member and a rotary bolt member provided with substantially equiangularly spaced transverse teeth: a member conformable to the contour of said bolt member and adapted to lie upon the faces of its teeth for engagement with said keeper member.

- 3. In a latch mechanism having a keeper member and a rotary bolt member provided with substantially equiangularly spaced transverse teeth: a split member conformable to the contour of said bolt member and adapted to lie upon the faces of its teeth for engagement with said keeper member, the split of said member being adapted to lie in the space between teeth on said bolt member adjacent the base portions of said teeth.

4. A star-shaped clip formed of a thin strip bent to conform to the peripheral contour of the teeth of a toothed rotary bolt member of a latch mechanism. I

5. A star-shaped clip formed of a thin strip bent to conform to the peripheral contour of the teeth of a toothed rotary member of a latch mechanism, said clip being split at a trough portion located between adjacent clip projections.

6. A star-shaped clip formed of a thin strip bent to conform to the peripheral contour of the teeth of a toothed rotary bolt member of a latch mechanism, said clip having weakened sections between its generally radial projections.

7. A star-shaped clip formed of a thin strip bent to conform to the peripheral contour of the teeth of a toothed rotary bolt member of a latch mechanism, said clip having weakened sections at its trough portions between its generally radial projecting portions.

8. A star-shaped clip formed of a thin strip bent to conform to the peripheral contour of the teeth of a toothed rotary bolt member of a latch mechanism, said clip having notches in one of its sides at its trough portions between its generally radial projecting portions.

9. A star-shaped clip formed of a thin strip bent to conform to the peripheral contour of the teeth of a toothed rotary bolt member of a latch mechanism, said clip having notches in both of its side margins at its trough portions between its generally radial projecting portions.

'10. A star-shaped clip formed of a thin strip bent to conform to the peripheral contour of the teeth of a toothed rotary bolt member of a latch mechanism, said clip having notches in one of its sides at its trough portions between its generally radial projecting portions, said clip being split at one of its trough portions.

11. A star-shaped clip formed of a thin strip bent to conform to the peripheral contour of the teeth of a toothed rotary bolt member of a latch mechanism, said cli having notches in both of its side margins at its trough portions between two generally radial projecting portions, said clip being split at one of its trough portions with an end of said clip defining said split having an inwardly directed sharp edge.

@ FRED ERNEST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Popular Mechanics, pg. 158, July 1935. 

